The goalkeeper supported the charity’s Some Time of Our Own Appeal for the caravan by donating the first £10,000 from his 20 Years Charity Match.

Yesterday, Harper joined charity founders Andrea and Dave Thompson, who set up the Toma Fund after their son Jordan lost his battle with acute myeloid leukemia back in September 2007 when he was just 15.

Andrea, of West Denton in Newcastle, said: “It was a lovely day, the sun shone down on us and I said to someone, ‘Jordan is working his magic, giving us good weather.

“We are over the moon with the caravan and can not wait to start using it for what it is there for.”

The project was launched to offer families with children undergoing cancer treatment a respite break. It will be open to families 42 weeks a year and will run for five years with the funding, which will cover the purchase of the caravan, a specially adapted ramp for wheelchair access, and running costs.

Families will also be given activities passes for the site, with the cost covered by the charity.

Steve Harper challenges Ben Murdock to a game of table football

“Ben Murdock and his mum Liz came along as they will be the first family in next weekend,” said Andrea, 45.

“It has been given the seal of approval.”

Ben was also diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia and he and his family are looking forward to their break together, thanks to the charity.

Speaking about her hopes for the caravan appeal, Andrea said: “I just hope that families will be able to gather a lot of memories for the future for those children who go on to live normal lives, that they can look back at some point and know they had a good break.

“For bereaved parents, it is about giving them some time on their own so they can get away from everything.

“They can just totally escape, and that goes for anyone who goes to the caravan.”

The idea for the respite caravan came to Andrea after her family enjoyed a week in a caravan after Jordan had finished his first round of treatment.